OLYMPIC sprinter Todd Bennett has been putting children through their paces at Upavon Primary School, teaching them a variety of exercises aimed at healthy living.

During his visit to the village school he showed the children a variety of exercises. He will be returning to the school next Wednesday with Olympic runner Mark Richardson to join the children in a series of sponsored exercises.

Head teacher Beverley Martin said the school will keep 60 per cent of the money the children raise, and the other 40 per cent will go to the Superschools project which funds promising young sportsmen and women.

The Skandia assurance company and Fyffes Bananas are jointly sponsoring Superschools which organises visits to schools by famous sports personalities to encourage more children to take up sports.

Mrs Martin said: "There is a double benefit for Upavon School from this because we need to get some decent sporting equipment to get the children to participate in sports, and this is one way of raising the money as well as the children meeting top sports personalities."

The school has already raised funds to buy new cricket gear but now wants to buy equipment for short tennis and tag rugby.